Community Capability Assessment (CCA)

Chemical spills can happen any day, at any time, in any community. When a major incident occurs, emergency responders must work with other community resources to address the incident. Additionally, an expanded incident may require the community to request resources from mutual aid agencies, the county, or the state.

As these resources execute their emergency response plans, there will be areas where the individual plans overlap. Each resource involved in the incident, must have a clear understanding of the other responder’s roles and limitations, so that everyone can work together safely and effectively.

The Community Capability Assessment (CCA) process is a systematic, three-phased approach that aids emergency responders in evaluating, coordinating, and enhancing the cohesiveness of their emergency response plans.

The three phases of the process are:

Phase 1

Emergency plan interface evaluation between the facility and fire department.

Phase 2

Emergency plan interface evaluation between the fire department and the additional community resources.

Phase 3

Emergency plan interface evaluation between the community resources and mutual aid, county and state resources.

The CCA process facilitates participation of key partners such as industry, fire departments, law enforcement, emergency management, emergency medical, including hospitals, public works, utilities and others to create a team of local experts that will evaluate the local emergency response plans. When gaps in the plans are identified, the team works together to find mutually agreeable solutions to the gaps.

Emergency Plan Evaluation Questionnaires

Note: Questionnaires are in Adobe PDF fill-in format. If you wish to complete the form electronically, you must first "save as" to your computer and then complete the form. To print a copy of the document click on the "print" button in the upper right hand corner of the form.

Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP)

Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program is intended to provide financial and technical assistance as well as national direction and guidance to enhance state, territorial, tribal, and local hazardous materials emergency planning and training. The HMEP Grant Program distributes fees collected from shippers and carriers of hazardous materials to emergency responders for hazmat training and to Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) for hazmat planning.

Emergency Response Guidebooks

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Emergency Response Guidebook is intended to aid first responders during the initial response to a hazmat incident. The ERG is available in electronic and hardcopy format.